Netflix’s Pluto is a slow-burn mystery that asks a simple question: can a robot kill a human? The answer, by the end of its eight episodes, is a resounding yes. Getting there takes patience, and the payoff is worth it.
Based on the manga series by Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki, adapted from Osamu Tezuka’s Astro Boy, Pluto follows Inspector Gesicht as he investigates a string of murders across the globe. The victims are robots and humans alike, and each corpse is found with an object lodged in or positioned by their head, mimicking horns. The case grows stranger as evidence points to a robot as the killer — a first in eight years.
Trailer, via Netflix Anime.
Gesicht and the Case That Won’t Die
Gesicht is the anchor of the show. Voiced by Shinshū Fuji in Japanese and Jason Vande Brake in English, he is a German robot detective working for Europol. His body is made of zeronium, and he can fire a devastating blast using the alloy as a shell. He and his wife, Helena, share a human appearance.
The premise is grim. Seven of the world’s most scientifically advanced robots — machines that could become weapons of mass destruction — are being targeted. The murdered humans were connected to preserving the International Robot Laws, which grant robots equal rights. The stakes are global.
The Seven Great Robots
Each of the seven is a distinct character, and the show takes time to establish their personalities before the bodies start piling up. Here’s a quick rundown:
| Robot | Voice Actor (Japanese) | Voice Actor (English) |
|---|---|---|
| Atom | Yoko Hikasa | Laura Stahl |
| Epsilon | Mamoru Miyano | Keith Silverstein |
| Hercules | Rikiya Koyama | Richard Epcar |
| Brando | Hidenobu Kiuchi | Adrian Pasdar |
| North No. 2 | Koichi Yamadera | Patrick Seitz |
| Mont Blanc | Hiroki Yasumoto | David Lodge |
| Gesicht | Shinshū Fuji | Jason Vande Brake |
Atom is a Japanese boy robot who was once the peace ambassador at the end of the 39th Central Asian War. His AI and sensors are more advanced than the other great robots. Epsilon is an Australian photon-powered robot with a pacifist outlook, running an orphanage for war orphans. He chose not to fight in the war.
Hercules is a Greek robot pankration wrestler with a high sense of honor and bravery. He and Brando have been rivals and friends since the war. Brando is a Turkish robot wrestler with a deep devotion to his robot wife and his five human children. He fought alongside Mont Blanc and Hercules in the conflict.
North No. 2 is a Scottish robot with six mechanical arms, formerly one of the most powerful fighters during the war. He prefers not to fight, serving as the butler of Paul Duncan, a blind composer. Mont Blanc is a French robot who is one of the great seven.
The Murder Pattern
The pattern of the crime is the show’s signature detail. Each victim is found with an object placed in or beside their head, forming a horn-like shape. The pattern is consistent across all eight episodes.
Gesicht is methodical, and his questioning of witnesses is often the best part of the episode. The show doesn’t rush the reveal. It lets the pieces fall into place naturally, which makes the twist land harder.
The Robot Killer
Evidence implicates a robot as the killer. This is the central horror of the show: a machine that can think, feel, and act with intent. The reveal is not a surprise, but it is a shock. The show has spent eight episodes building a world where robots are citizens, and then it tears that world apart.
The mystery is compelling, and the final reveal is genuinely unsettling. It is a show about responsibility, about the line between man and machine, and about the cost of progress. It is not an easy watch, but it is a rewarding one.
Animation and Sound
Pluto is a Japanese original net animation, produced by Genco with animation by Studio M2. The art direction is clean and detailed, with a style that owes a debt to the manga source material. The backgrounds are rich, and the character designs are expressive.
The sound design is excellent. The show uses silence effectively, letting the weight of a revelation sit before moving on. The score is minimalistic, and it never overpowers the dialogue.
Where It Falls Short
Pluto isn’t perfect. The middle episodes drag, and some character arcs feel underdeveloped. The pacing is uneven, with a few episodes feeling like filler before the finale picks back up.
The show also leans heavily on exposition. Some scenes are devoted entirely to explaining the history of the robot laws, which slows down the momentum. The storytelling is dense, and not every viewer will want to keep up with all the background.
Final Word
Pluto is a strong adaptation of a beloved manga. It respects the source material while finding its own visual identity. The cast is well-chosen, and the voice acting sells the emotional weight of the story.
The mystery is compelling, and the final reveal is genuinely unsettling. It is a show about responsibility, about the line between man and machine, and about the cost of progress. It is not an easy watch, but it is a rewarding one.
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